A series of hoax bomb threats sent via email triggered security alarms and evacuations at the Gujarat High Court and several other key judicial and administrative buildings across the state on Tuesday, January 7, 2026. Searches by security forces found nothing suspicious, and investigations have now been handed over to cybercrime units.
Widespread Threats Across Key Institutions
The threats impacted institutions spread across at least five districts. The Gujarat High Court in Ahmedabad was among the primary targets. According to Sola police station inspector K N Bhukan, the email received there specifically threatened to blow up the premises using RDX.
Apart from the High Court, the sessions and district courts in Rajkot, Bharuch, Surat, and Anand also received similar threatening emails. On the administrative side, the Gandhinagar Collectorate and the Bharuch Collectorate were also targeted, leading to precautionary evacuations.
Immediate Security Response and Evacuations
Following the threats, authorities acted swiftly to ensure safety. The affected buildings, including the High Court, were evacuated. Security personnel, along with Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads (BDDS) and dog squads, conducted thorough, floor-by-floor searches of the premises.
"Police personnel, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) and a dog squad conducted a thorough search of the premises after evacuating the building. No suspicious material was found," confirmed Inspector Bhukan. After the exhaustive checks, entry to the court premises was resumed.
Cybercrime Cells Take Over Investigations
With the threats originating from digital channels, the focus has now shifted to cyber investigators. An official stated that investigations into these hoax bomb threats will be conducted by cybercrime police stations or cybercrime cells under the respective jurisdictions.
Sources revealed details about the content of some emails. The threat sent to the Rajkot court also mentioned the Ahmedabad sessions court and the Gujarat High Court. Meanwhile, the email received in Surat named a wider list, including the Bhavnagar, Anand, Ahmedabad Rural, and Rajkot District Courts, along with the Gujarat High Court and several banks like Union Bank and Indian Bank.
The incident has highlighted the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to digital harassment, prompting a coordinated probe by cyber experts to trace the origin of these alarming communications.
